Assessment of Skit Making as an Advocacy Tool Against the Lawlessness of Nigerian Policemen
Article
In the current dispensation of democracy, law enforcement challenges persist in Nigeria, particularly concerning police misconduct, corruption, and human rights abuses. Skit making, a form of online advocacy with a hint of entertainment, has emerged as a tool to address these issues. Hence, this study explores the effectiveness, themes, and challenges of skit-based advocacy against police lawlessness in the country. The role of skits in shaping public perception and motivating social action is equally examined. A qualitative research approach was employed, where interviews were conducted with a sample size of 30 persons using the snowball sampling technique. Findings show that by actively engaging the audience and involving stakeholders, skits can serve as a viable tool for advocacy. However, creating skits on such a delicate topic is not without challenges, such as an imbalance in the use of humor for such a societal issue and fear of litigation, among others. Thus, this study recommends that skit-makers should not shy away from bringing to the limelight the underlying systemic issues, such as institutionalized corruption or lack of accountability within the Nigerian Police law enforcement to ensure its effectiveness.